Will GreenwaldCreative Sound Blaster Roar 2The Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 has plenty of unique features you don't typically see on Bluetooth speakers, but there are slightly better-sounding models for the price.

The Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2 has plenty of unique features you don't typically see on Bluetooth speakers, but there are slightly better-sounding models for the price.

The original Creative Sound Blaster Roar was an impressive little Bluetooth speaker. Its performance didn't wow us, but it had many unique features that set it apart from the competition, including a voice recorder, a built-in MP3 player, a full-size USB port for charging mobile devices, and even a siren. The $169.99 Sound Blaster Roar 2 is smaller and lighter than the Roar, but it has almost all of the same features. However, like the original Roar, its audio performance isn't quite on par with other options in its price range, like the Bose SoundLink Mini II and the Ultimate Ears UE Boom 2 (both $199.99). If you want to save a little money, and enjoy a feature-rich portable speaker, the Roar 2 is an excellent choice.

DesignThe Roar 2 is slightly slimmer and lighter than the original Roar at 4.3 by 7.2 by 1.9 inches (HWD) and 2.2 pounds, though it's still on the large side for a portable speaker. You'll be able to pack it into most bags, but don't try to fit it in your jacket. A metal grille protects the main drivers on the speaker's face, and two covered rubber radiators sit on either end to improve bass performance.

A flat strip above the grille holds Power, Volume Up/Down, and Call/Bluetooth Pairing buttons, plus a pinhole microphone, a set of indicator lights, and an NFC panel for easy pairing with compatible devices. That's all pretty standard for Bluetooth speakers, but around the corner you'll find a more imposing array of controls. The back panel has playback controls for the built-in MP3 player, Record and Play/Pause buttons for the voice recorder, a mic muting switch, a USB Audio/Mass Storage mode switch, and a Tera Bass mode button. The panel also holds a proprietary power port for the included charger, a 3.5mm input jack, a full-size USB port for charging mobile devices with the speaker's battery, a port for connecting the speaker to your computer as a digital-to-analog (DAC) , and a microSD card slot for the MP3 player and voice recorder features.

By default, the Roar 2 sits flat and projects sound upward, as indicated by the two long rubber feet located on the back/bottom of the speaker. However, two additional rubber feet are included, and you can place them on the panel opposite the side with the ports and switches to stand it upright.

FeaturesThe Roar 2 doesn't offer any new functionality over the original Roar, but the Roar already boasted an impressive array of features to begin with. The aforementioned MP3 player and voice recorder features can play music stored on a microSD card (not included), or record audio with the built-in microphone to the card. The full-size USB port outputs 5V/1A current, which should be enough to charge most smartphones (though this will obviously drain the speaker's battery faster than regular use). The micro USB port can connect to a PC with the included cable to let the Roar 2 serve as a speaker with its own USB sound card, and the mode switch turns the speaker into a microSD card reader for loading or removing files from the installed card. You can even connect the Roar 2 to Sony PlayStation 4over USB if you want to use it instead of your HDTV's speakers for gaming.

The siren function and "Loud Noises" feature (playing loud noises periodically to keep you awake) from the first Roar aren't present on the Roar 2, but they're such limited and obscure aspects that you probably won't miss them unless you have very specific needs. On the bright side, the MP3 player has a Bedtime mode that slowly turns the volume down over 15 or 30 minutes while you go to sleep.

According to Creative, the Roar 2's 6,000mAh battery can power the speaker for up to eight hours, though this depends on how loud you play your music, and whether you use the mobile device charging function.

PerformanceCreative boasts that it fits all of the drivers of the original Sound Blaster Roar into a smaller package with the Roar 2, and this means you shouldn't expect particularly improved performance. It certainly sounds good, but slightly pricier portable speakers like the Bose SoundLink Mini II and the Ultimate Ears UE Boom 2 offer more power and clarity. To its credit, the Roar 2 handled our bass test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," very well. It didn't shake the walls, but it reproduced the bass synth and kick drum at maximum volume without distortion.

For less bass-intensive tracks, the Boom 2 sounds good, but not incredible. It can put out an appreciable amount of low-end and gets fairly loud, but it doesn't quite reach the volume levels of the Boom 2, and the high-end isn't quite as crisp as the SoundLink Mini II. Miles Davis' "So What" and Yes' "Roundabout" both had satisfyingly full bass. The piano on the former and the acoustic guitar on the latter were clear enough to enjoy, but performance isn't anything to write home about.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' "Red Right Hands" demonstrates this good-not-great performance very well. The crunchiness of the rustling sounds in the and the ominous bell throughout the track are loud and clear, as is Cave's deep voice. However, the subtle, muted bassline of the song sits too far in the background, and Cave loses a bit of sibilance at the end of certain words, which would come out with a bit more high-end clarity.

Like the original, the Sound Blaster Roar 2 is an intriguing multi-tool of a portable speaker. It can do a lot of different things and its performance is satisfying, especially for a price tag closer to $150 than $200. If you want the best sound quality, though, the Editors' Choice Bose SoundLink Mini II and Ultimate Ears UE Boom 2 are superior options, even if they don't have nearly as many features. The SoundLink Mini II offers crisper high-end better balance, and the waterproof, rugged Boom 2 offers more power and a fuller sense of bass. Still, you won't be disappointed by the Roar 2, especially if functions like the built-in MP3 player and voice recorder appeal to you.

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About the Author

Will Greenwald has been covering consumer technology for a decade, and has served on the editorial staffs of CNET.com, Sound & Vision, and Maximum PC. His work and analysis has been seen in GamePro, Tested.com, Geek.com, and several other publications. He currently covers consumer electronics in the PC Labs as the in-house home entertainment expert... See Full Bio

Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2

Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2

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